A high-speed chase through two counties ended with arrests in Marion on Feb. 23.
Washington County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Shepherd clocked a Dodge pickup driving north on Interstate 81 at 86 mph. Once the captain signaled for the truck to pull over, the driver accelerated to speeds topping 100 mph, swerving in and out of both northbound lanes and into the emergency late.
At a construction area, according to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, the driver struck traffic control devices to get through the closed-down areas.
Once the chase reached mile marker 39, Smyth County deputies and the Virginia State Police took over the pursuit.
The driver and two passenger ran away after abandoning the truck in Marion. After a brief search of a wooded area, the three were arrested. The Dodge truck had been reported stolen from Botetourt County on Feb. 22.
The driver of the truck, was identified as Landon Lockhard, 21, of Boones Mill, Virginia. Also arrested was 47-year-old Zoey Martin of Buchanan. A passenger, she had outstanding warrants from Botetourt for failure to pay fines. While being booked at the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail facility in Abingdon, two smoking devices hidden on her were found via X-ray. She was charged with possession of a controlled substance by prisoner.
The second passenger, 28-year-old Kristen Pountious of Christiansburg was wanted on six felony probation violations from Pulaski County and one felony probation violation from Montgomery County.
All three are currently being held without bond.
